Golf Chipping Training Kit

ABSTRACT

A golf chipping training kit that is inexpensive to produce, is easy to transport, and which provides all items necessary for a user to practice or receive training on their golf chip shots aside from the user&#39;s golf clubs is provided, which may be used by the user to practice their golf chip shots on their own or to receiving training on their golf chip shots from an instructor. The preferred embodiment of the golf chipping training kit includes a storage bag for storing the items of the kit, a plurality of golf balls, and an adjustable target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates to a training kit for golfchipping and, more specifically, an inexpensive golf chipping trainingkit that may be easily transported by the user. The present inventionprovides a golf chipping training kit which may be used by the user topractice golf chip shots or to train with an instructor to improve theirgolf chip shots.

While equipment used to practice golf chip shots is currently availableon the market, such equipment includes items like flag kits that aredriven into the ground to provide a target for a user, nets to hit chipshots into, and the like, but such equipment in the past has not beeneasily transportable by the user, nor has such equipment beeninexpensive enough to allow an instructor to provide an entire classwith their own kits that include everything needed to practice chipsshots except for the user's golf clubs. As such, there is an existingneed for an inexpensive yet complete training kit for golf chip shots.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a training kit forgolf chipping that includes everything that the user will need topractice chipping aside from the user's golf clubs.

The present invention aims to address at least some of the problems withprior art training equipment by providing a light weight and inexpensivekit that is easy to transport from location to location by the user andwhich includes everything that the user will need to practice andimprove their golf chip shots except for the user's golf clubs. Sinceusers generally will use their own set of golf clubs to becomeaccustomed to the specific characteristics of their clubs, or would usegolf clubs provided by an instructor, the kit of the present inventionremains light and easy to transport while remaining fully functional.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf chipping training kit of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the golf chipping training kit of FIG. 1with the cover flap of the bag in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the golf chipping training kit of FIG. 1with the cover flap of the bag in its open position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable target of the golfchipping training kit of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Embodiments of the present invention provide a golf chipping trainingkit that is light and expensive while including all of the items that auser will need to practice, or receiving training on, their golf chipshots.

Referring now FIGS. 1 through 3, a preferred embodiment of the golfchipping training kit 10 is shown. The golf chipping training kit 10comprises a storage and carrying bag 12, at least one golf ball 14, andan adjustable target 16.

The storage and carrying bag 12 of the golf chipping training kit 10comprises at least one golf ball pocket 18, an adjustable target pocket20, and a cover flap 22. The bag 12 preferably comprises a front panel24 and a back panel 26, and the front panel 24 and the back panel 26 aresewn together to form the at least one golf ball pocket 18 and theadjustable target pocket 20. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the front panel 24 has a width of approximately 8.5 inchesand a length of approximately 7.5 inches and the back panel 26 has awidth of approximately 8.5 inches and a total length of approximately11.75 inches, with the cover flap 22 having a width of approximately 8.5inches and a length of approximately 4.25 inches (which is also part ofthe length of the back panel 26).

More preferably, the front panel 24 and the back panel 26 are integralto each other, such that the front panel 24 and back panel 26 aredifferent portions of one long piece of fabric. By having the frontpanel 24 and the back panel 26 integral to each other a sewn seam at thebottom of the bag 12 can be avoided, which results in a cleaner look andgreater durability for the bag 12. For example, in the preferredembodiment where the front panel 24 and back panel 26 are integral toeach other, the piece of fabric from which the bag 12 is formed has awidth of approximately 8.5 inches and a total length of approximately19.25 inches.

While it is desirable to have the bag 12 comprise of the front panel 24and the back panel 26, alternatively where a bag 12 having a greaterstorage capacity is desired, the bag 12 may also include side panels oneach side of the bag 12, a bottom panel on the bottom of the bag 12, andinternal pocket panels separating the at least one golf ball pocket 18and adjustable target pocket 20. These additional panels allow the bag12 to have a greater depth than what would be practical if only a frontpanel and back panel are used to form the bag 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least onegolf ball pocket 18 and adjustable target pocket 20 are formed by sewingtogether the front panel 24 and the back panel 26 and the cover flap 22is integral to the back panel 26. As a result, there are sewn seamsalong each outer side edge of the bag 12, as well as sewn seams betweenthe golf ball pocket 18 and adjustable target pocket 20. The golf ballpockets 18 are left open at the top of the golf ball pockets 18, suchthat the opening is covered when the cover flap 22 is in its closedconfiguration. Likewise, the adjustable target pocket 20 is left open atthe top of the adjustable target pocket 20, such that the opening iscovered when the cover flap 22 is in its closed configuration.

While preferably the cover flap 22 is integral to the back panel 26 inorder to provide greater usability, alternatively, the cover flap 22 maybe integral to the front flap 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag 12includes two side golf ball pockets 18, with one on each side of theadjustable target pocket 20. The size of the golf ball pockets 18 issufficient to allow the at least one golf ball 14, and preferably aplurality of golf balls 14, to be held within the golf ball pockets 18.For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention each of the golf ball pockets 18 is configured tohold four golf balls 14 and have a width of approximately 2.75 inchesand length of approximately 7.5 inches.

Optionally, the golf ball pocket 18 may include a clear plastic window28 on the exterior surface of the golf ball pocket 18, such that theuser may view the number of golf balls 14 in the golf ball pocket 18without opening the cover flap 22. The clear plastic window 28 is sewninto a cutout created on the surface of the golf ball pocket 18 to allowa view of what is inside the golf ball pocket 18 while making the clearplastic window 28 integral to the golf ball pocket 18 and the bag 12.

The bag 12 also includes the adjustable target pocket 20 which is sizedsuch that the adjustable target may be coiled up and stored within theadjustable target pocket 20. For example, in the preferred embodimentthe adjustable target pocket has a width of approximately 3 inches and alength of approximately 7 inches.

Preferably the bag 12 includes a means for removably securing the coverflap 22 to the outer surface of the front panel 24, which is the frontouter surface of the bag 12, in order to prevent the golf balls 14 fromfalling out of the golf ball pockets 18 and the adjustable target 16from falling out of the adjustable target pocket 20. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, as may be seen in FIG. 3, the meansfor removably securing the cover flap 22 to the outer surface of thefront panel 24 takes the form of a hook-and-loop strip 30, preferably aVelcro® strip, attached to the cover flap 22 and a correspondinghook-and-loop strip 32, preferably a Velcro® strip, attached to thesurface of the front panel 24. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the hook-and-loop strips 30 and 32 take the form of aVelcro® strip approximately 1 inch in width which runs from the outeredge 34 of the bag 12 to the opposite outer edge 36 of the bag 12.Alternatively, instead of hook-and-loop strips the means for removablysecuring the cover flap 22 to the outer surface of the front panel 24may take the form of a clip, with one portion of the clip attached tothe cover flap 22 and the corresponding portion of the clip attached tothe front panel 24 of the bag 12. While both the use of hook-and-loopstrips and a clip are discussed herein, one skilled in the art willrecognize that any means for removably securing the cover flap 22 to theouter surface of the front panel 24 known in the art may be utilizedwithout departing from the aspects of the present invention.

The bag 12 may be constructed from any fabric known in the art, butpreferably is constructed of a higher strength and abrasion-resistantmaterial, such as nylon.

Optionally, the bag 12 may further comprise a shoulder strap 38 togetherwith a means of attaching the shoulder strap 38 to the bag 12. In thepreferred embodiment, as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, such meanscomprises a pair of D-rings 40 held within a pair of fabric loops 42sewn onto the back panel 26 of the bag 12. Preferably, to save expenseand limit the weight of the bag 12, the D-rings 40 are constructed ofplastic, but alternatively if greater durability is desired the D-ringsmay be constructed of metal. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the shoulder strap 38 comprises a fabric strap 44, preferablya length of nylon webbing, with a clip 46, such as a swivel clip, oneach end. The fabric strap 44 may be of a fixed length, or may be of anadjustable length by including an adjustable buckle as may be seen aspart of the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, thelength of the fabric strap 44 may be adjusted, such that the shoulderstrap 38 may be adjusted to fit a wide range of individuals, from smallchildren to tall adults. The use of clips 46 as part of the shoulderstrap 38 of the preferred embodiment allows the shoulder strap 38 to beremovable, with the user snapping the clips 46 onto the D-rings 40 ofthe preferred embodiment in order to use the shoulder strap 38 andremoving the clips 46 from the D-rings 40 if the user does not desire touse the shoulder strap 38.

Alternatively, in place of the shoulder strap 38 of the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the bag 12 may include a carryinghandle sewn onto the back panel. Such a handle may be included if thegolf chipping training kit 10 will be carried the user in the user'shand rather then on the user's shoulder.

The at least one golf ball 14 of the golf chipping training kit 10 maybe of any kind of standard size golf ball known in the art. Preferably,there are no limitations on which golf balls are used as the least onegolf ball 14 of the golf chipping training kit 10 of the presentinvention and the golf balls used may be included with the kit 10 whenthe kit 10 is first purchased, or may be golf balls supplied by the userfrom the user's set of golf balls. Additionally, any practice-type golfballs, including light plastic golf balls, may be used where the kit 10will be used in a location where the use of a standard golf ball isinconvenient or undesirable, such as inside a building or in a smallarea. Preferably, at least one golf ball 14 of the kit 10 is a pluralityof golf balls, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. More preferably, theplurality of golf balls 14 used with the kit 10 are of at least twodifferent types or colors, which allows the user to hit several balls ofone type or color, adjust their hitting technique, and then hit severalballs of the second type or color in order to determine the effect thatthe adjustment of the user's technique had on the accuracy of the user'schip shots. The specific number of golf balls 14 used with the golfchipping training kit 10 may be varied based upon the chosen size of thebag 12 and the number of golf balls 14 that the user desires to carrywith them. For example, in the preferred embodiment the golf chippingtraining kit 10 includes a total of eight golf balls.

The golf chipping training kit 10 also includes the adjustable target16. The adjustable target 16 is used to create a target for the user toaim at when using the kit 10. Preferably, the size of the adjustabletarget 16 may adjusted in order to provide a larger target when the userfirst starts practicing the user's chip shots and gradually be adjustedto smaller and smaller sizes as the accuracy of the user's chip shotsimprove. In the preferred embodiment, as may be seen in FIG. 4, theadjustable target 16 is an adjustable rope loop comprising a rope 48 andtwo adjustment tubes 50. In order to create the adjustable target 16 tobe adjusted, the rope 48 is place in a large circle with the two ends ofthe rope 48 being located near each other. Each end of the rope 48 isplaced through one adjustment tube 50 and then each end of the rope 48is inserted through the opposite adjustment tube 50 (which is locatednear the opposite end of the rope 48). Then a knot is tied in each endof the rope 48, such that the ends of the rope cannot be pulled throughthe adjustment tube 50. The size of the adjustable target 16 can then bevaried by sliding the adjustment tubes 50 along the rope 48 to adjustthe size of the loop formed by the rope 48, thereby adjusting the sizeof the adjustable target 16. Sliding the adjustment tubes 50 so thatthey are initially moving closer together will make the adjustabletarget 16 larger and sliding the adjustment tubes 50 so that they areinitially moving away from each other will make the adjustable target 16smaller. Any size of rope 48 and adjustment tubes 50 may be used thatwill fit within the adjustment target pocket 20 when it is coiled up.Likewise, the rope 48 and adjustment tubes 50 may be constructed of anymaterial known in the art for ropes and hollow tubes, but preferably aremade of durable materials that will stand up to use as part of the golfchipping training kit 10. For example, the rope 48 in the preferredembodiment has a diameter of approximately 3/16 inch and is a nylon ropeand the adjustment tubes are approximately 1/16 inch thick plastic tubeswith an outer diameter of approximately 2 inch and an inner diameter ofapproximately ⅜ inch. While the method of making the adjustable target16 adjustable with the rope 48 and adjustment tubes 50 is discussedherein, any method of creating a loop of rope with an adjustable lengthknown in the art may be used.

Alternatively, the adjustable target 16 may take the form of a loop offabric, like a nylon webbing loop, that includes additional hardware,such as clips and adjustable buckles, which allow the size of the loopto be adjusted.

While preferably the adjustable target 16 is included as part of thegolf chipping training kit 10, alternatively a target that is notadjustable may be included in its place. For example, an alternativetarget for the golf chipping training kit 10 may be a fabric circle orsquare with concentric circles or squares, respectively, marked on thefabric in order to serve as a target for the user's chip shots toindicate any improvement in the user's accuracy.

In order to use the golf chipping training kit 10, the user brings thekit 10 and the club or clubs from the user's golf club set that the userdesires to practice chipping with (such a sand wedge or pitching wedgeclub) to the location where the user desires to practice. The user opensthe cover flap 22 of the bag 12 of the kit 10 and removes the golf balls14 and the adjustable target 16. The user may then place the bag 12 tothe side and out of the way. The user then selects the size of thetarget that the user desires to practice chipping into and adjusts theadjustable target 16 to that size by adjusting the length of the rope 48by sliding the adjustment tubes 50 along the rope 48 until the desiredsize is reached. The user then places the adjustable target 16 at thedistance from the user's hitting position that the user desires andreturns to the hitting position. The user hits several chip shots andobserves the locations that the golf balls 14 hit by the user landrelative to the adjustable target 16. The user's goal is to hit the golfballs 14 and have them land within the adjustable target 16. Ifnecessary, the user adjusts the user's chipping technique and hitsseveral additional golf balls 14, again aiming for them to land withinthe adjustable target 16. The user continues this process to practicetheir chipping, adjusting the size of the adjustable target 16 as theuser's chipping skill improves.

It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the size,configuration, or dimensions of the golf chipping training kit 10 of thepresent invention may be adjusted to fit various sizes of adjustabletargets 16 and various numbers of golf balls 14. Likewise, it will berecognized by one skilled in the art that the materials from which thegolf chipping training kit 10, and specifically the storage and carryingbag 12 and adjustable target 16, of the present invention is made may bevaried without departing from the scope of the present invention.

While the invention has been described in the specification andillustrated in the drawings with reference to certain preferredembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the invention, as defined in the appended claims,without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the present invention not be limited to the particularembodiments illustrated by the drawings and described in thespecification as the best modes presently contemplated for carrying outthe present invention, but that the present invention will include anyembodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.

1: A golf chipping training kit comprising: a carrying bag comprising atleast one golf ball pocket, an adjustable target pocket, and a coverflap; at least one golf ball; and an adjustable target, wherein theadjustable target comprises a rope, a first adjustment tube, and asecond adjustment tube wherein the first adjustment tube comprises ahollow plastic tube and the second adjustment tube comprises a hollowplastic tube, wherein the rope includes a first end and a second end,wherein the first end is inserted through the second adjustment tube,then inserted through the first adjustment tube, and then a knot is tiedin the rode at the first end of the rope, and the second end is insertedthrough the first adjustment tube, then inserted through the secondadjustment tube and then a knot is tied in the rope at the first end ofthe rope to form the adjustable target wherein the length of the rope ofthe adjustable target may be adjusted by sliding the first adjustmenttube and second adjustment tube along the rope. 2: The golf chippingtraining kit of claim 1, wherein the carrying bag comprises a frontpanel and back panel, wherein the at least one golf ball pocket and theadjustable target pocket a formed by sewing the front panel and backpanel together and wherein the cover flap is integral to the frontpanel. 3: The golf chipping training kit of claim 2, wherein the frontpanel and the back panel are integral to each other. 4: The golfchipping training kit of claim 1, wherein the carrying bag comprises afabric. 5: The golf chipping training kit of claim 1, wherein the coverflap includes a means for removably securing an end of the cover flap toa front surface of the carrying bag. 6: The golf chipping training kitof claim 5, wherein the means for removably securing the end of thecover flap to the front surface of the carrying bag comprises a firsthook-and-loop fastener attached to the cover flap and a correspondingsecond hook-and-loop fastener attached to the front surface of thecarrying bag wherein the second hook-and-loop fastener receives thefirst hook-and-loop fastener to removably secure the cover flap in itsdosed configuration. 7: The golf chipping training kit of claim 5,wherein the means for removably securing the end of the cover flap tothe front surface of the carrying bag comprises a snap, wherein thefirst half of the snap attached to the cover flap and the receiving halfof the snap attached to the front surface of the carrying bag whereinthe opposite half of the snap receives the first half of the snap toremovably secure the cover flap in its closed configuration. 8: The golfchipping training kit of claim 5, wherein the means for removablysecuring the end of the cover flap to the front surface of the carryingbag comprises a clip, wherein the first half of the clip attached to thecover flap and the receiving half of the clip attached to the frontsurface of the carrying bag wherein the receiving half of the clipreceives the first half of the clip to removably secure the cover flapin its closed configuration. 9: The golf chipping training kit of claim1, wherein the at least one golf ball pocket includes a transparentwindow. 10: The golf chipping training kit of claim 1, wherein the atleast one golf ball pocket comprises a first golf ball pocket and asecond golf ball pocket. 11: The golf chipping training kit of claim 10,wherein the first golf ball pocket and the second golf ball pocket arelocated adjacent to the adjustable target pocket, such that theadjustable target pocket is located between the first golf ball pocketand the second golf ball. 12: The golf chipping training kit of claim 1,wherein the at least one golf ball comprises a plurality of golf balls.13: The golf chipping training kit of claim 12, wherein the plurality ofgolf balls comprise golf balls having at least two colors. 14: The golfchipping training kit of claim 1, wherein the carrying bag furthercomprises a shoulder strap. 15: The golf chipping training kit of claim1, wherein the carrying bag further comprises a handle.
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